THE opportunity to say you have supported a sporting team from the very beginning is a rare one – and while she may not know it just yet, AFLW Foundation member Anna Korbel will be able to grow up saying just that.
At just five months old, Anna Korbel is one of the club's youngest AFLW Foundation members.
Coming from a family with strong Port Adelaide ties dating back to the 1940s, it wasn’t a question of if, but when Anna would officially be signed up as a Port Adelaide member.
Anna’s father Patrick Korbel signed his daughter up as both a Junior AFLW Foundation member and Junior AFL Power member when she was just over three months old.
“It was my idea to sign Anna up, to be a surprise for her grandmother to show that we were bringing her into the tribe and bringing her up in the right way,” Mr Korbel said.
“Both her great grandparents on her mother’s side were from the Port Adelaide area.
“Her great grandfather, Patrick Hurley, played for the Port Adelaide colts in the 1940s and is a lifelong Port man, and her grandmother has also been a club member for a long time as well.
“So, I thought when she was born that it would be good to keep up the family tradition and sign her up as soon as possible.”
The opportunity for his daughter to be a lifelong Port Adelaide member and to support the club’s upcoming women’s team from the very beginning was too good for Mr Korbel to pass up.
“I thought it would be a good story for her to tell that she has been a lifelong member of the club,” Mr Korbel said.
“Plus, it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity to be a foundation member of the club’s AFLW team.
“I thought that women’s sport is going to be something really important to her growing up, and in 18 years’ time or however long, she will be able to say I was there supporting them from the very beginning.”
Mr Korbel is looking forward to taking Anna to Alberton Oval to watch Port Adelaide’s women play and creating new family memories.
“Having three generations there all supporting Port Adelaide and keeping on that family tradition will be a great way for her to reflect on her great grandfather and form some new family memories.”
You too can also be part of history and support our inaugural women’s team - AFLW Foundation memberships start from $30 for Juniors and $50 for Adults.
